Martian wind speed, equalized to Earth wind speed

to produce the same amount

of electrical power
1
(by Mihail Mateev, M.Sc. , 2015-05-01)

Changelog:
2015-05-02: Initial release for any critics.
INTRODUCTION
This paper is written for Mars Simulation Project as theoretical expectation of needed speed
of Martian wind on order to yield the same amount of electrical power as on Earth.
SCENARIO
Wind turbines convect the kinetic energy in the wind first into rotational kinetic energy into
the turbine and then into electrical power that can be supplied, through an electrical grid, for
any purpose in the settlements.
The energy available for conversion depends on the wind speed and swept area of the turbine,
as well as of air density (for areas like Mars, where air density differs greatly from Earth one).

PROBLEM STATEMENT
When planning usage of wind power on Mars it is very important at what local wind speed
wind turbines would be operational and useful as power source provider. This paper will try
to calculate the wind speed needed to rotate an Earth-produced wind turbine on Mars, and
produce the same amount of electrical power.

MATHEMATICAL MODEL
Mathematical model of resulting electrical power available in the wind (equation 1) is
described in Royal Academy of Engineering paper.2
The following list shows definition of various variables used in this model:
P = Electrical power [W]
= Density [kg/m3]
A = Swept Area [m2]
v = Wind Speed [m/s]

C p = Power Coefficient
r = Radius [m]

C p is called Betz limit and its maximal value is defined by a German physicist Albert Betz
when he concluded that no wind turbine can convert more thant 16/27 (59.3%) of the kinetic
energy of the wind into mechanical energy using a rotor. In practice even this coeficient
ranges from 0.35 to 0.45 for the best current wind turbines and value of 0.40 is taken as
average value. If we consider a complete wind energy system, including rotor, transmission,
generator, storage and other devices, the coefficient falls to 0.10 to 0.30.3
1
Pavail = Av 3C p (1)
2

In order to calculate the effective wind speed on Martian wind to produce the same electrical
power, we equilize the formula for available electrical power on Mars and on Earth:
1
1
M AvM3 C p = E AvE3 C p (2)
2
2

As power coefficient and swept area are the same (in this model we work with a turbine with
a swept area used on Earth) they are canceled on both side of the equation, and we are
considering the wind speed as a variable, we have the following resulting equation:

3
M

= E v E3 (3)

Calculating for wind speed on Mars we have:

vM3

= E
3
vE
M
vM
=
vE

vM =

E
M

E
vE (4)
M

Equation (4) represents the wind speed needed for any extraterrestrial body with gaseous
atmosphere and necessary wind speed in order to produce equal amount of energy with wind

turbine with applicable-on-Earth swept area. (See section Practical Applications for
considerations of different swept areas).
We see that given the swept area is the same, the wind speed is proportional on cube root of
atmospheric density ratio of both planets/moons.
We shall show what is the resulting value for Mars in the next section.
CALCULATION WITH GIVEN DATA
We can get atmospheric density from Planetary Fact Sheet4 from NASA.
For surface astmospheric density for Mars5 we have M = 0.020 kg/m3, and for surface
atmospheric density for Earth6 we have = 1.217 kg/m3.
So, equation (4) is transformed into equation (5) this way:

vM =

vM =

1.217
vE
0.020
60.85 vE

vM = 3.9333 vE (5)
Equation (5) shows the fact that, given Martian atmospheric density, in order to transfer the
same amount of energy, which later to be transferred into electrical power, the wind on Mas
must has speed approximately 4 times greater than the one on Earth.
Considering 2.5-3m/s7 as a cut-in8 wind speed for Earth, then 10-12m/s would be cut-in speed
for Martian wind turbine generators.
The coefficient in equation (5) is approximate, as it depends on actual Martian atmospheric
density, which is dependent on temperature, season, and particular solar distance, as Martian
orbit is highly ecliptical. It is highly probable that a follow-up paper would be needed in order
to estimate how these parameters affect the precise value of the coefficient in equation (5).

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS

Fig. 1: Meteo data at Viking Lander 2 location, 47 deg. N9

As we can see from Fig. 1, in the Martian Northern hemisphere winds with speed above
10m/s blow only in the winter season between Autumn Equinox and Spring Equinox, ranging
from 12 to 20 m/s, which equals approximately 3 to 5 m/s in Earth conditions. Given 3 m/s as
cut-in speed for most wind turbines, keeping the same size of the turbines as on Earth is
unpractical, because barely any electrical power would be generated even at 20 m/s.
One possible solution is to take advantage of lower gravity and increase the swept area of the
rotor, so more electrical power to be generated.

Fig. 2. Rotor parameters10

Now, let us solve equation (2) for A, given the wind speed is the same. Equation (2) is
rewritten below under number (6).
1
1
M AM v 3C p = E AE v 3C p (6)
2
2

M AM = E AE (7)
AM

= E
AE
M
A = r 2

rM2

= E
2
rE
M
rM2

= E
2
rE
M
rM
=
rE
rM =

E
M

E
rE (8)
M

We see in equation (8) that given the wind speed is the same, the radius of Martian wind
turbine is proportional on square root of atmospheric density ratio of both planets/moons.
If we calculate again the atmospheric densities ratio again, we would come to the value of
60.85, therefore equation (8) would look this way:
rM =

60.85 rE

rM =

60.85 rE

rM = 7.801 rE (9)
and for diameter:
d M = 7.801 d E (10)
Equations (9) and (10) tell us that in order to take advantage of any wind speed, the
corresponding wind turbine on Mars must have approximately eight (8) times greater
radius/diamter in order to generate the same amount of electrical energy.
It is a great relief to know the industry has experience with big-rotor sizes of wind turbine.
One example is 100 kW Polaris wind turbine, which has diameter of the rotor of 21.2 meters11.
Such an diameter would be equivalent of a wind turbine with diameter of 2.5 m on Earth.
Similar wind turbines can generate 0.9 to 1 kW, with cut-in speed of only 2 to 2.5 m/s, and
rated speed of 10 m/s. One example of such a wind turbine is the turbine produced by Travere
Industries.12
While electrical power of 1kW might look as small yield, we must not forget we can build a
lot of wind turbines and have more or less constant electrical power yield from Martian wind.
Wind generators can serve as alternative (during local winter and/or dust storms) or auxiliary
power generators (in the summer) for Martian settlements and outposts on both Martian
hemispheres.

CONCLUSION
This paper tried to show it is possible and sensibly to use wind turbine power generators on
Mars, showing that same size rotors or rotors with increased size are applicable on Mars using
current level of wind turbine production technology.
FOOTNOTES

For contacts: https://www.facebook.com/MihailMMateev

http://www.raeng.org.uk/publications/other/23-wind-turbine, accessed on 2015-05-01
3
http://energybible.com/wind_energy/wind_speed.html, accessed on 2015-05-01
4
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/, accessed on 2015-05-01
5
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/marsfact.html, acessed on 2015-05-01
6
http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/earthfact.html, acessed on 2015-05-01
7
http://www.urbanwind.net/pdf/CATALOGUE_V2.pdf, accessed on 2015-05-01
8
For this and other terms, check http://energybible.com/wind_energy/wind_speed.html, accessed on 2015-05-01
9
Source: Viking Photomap of Mars, located here: http://planetologia.elte.hu/ipcd/ipcd.html?cim=vikmars2008,
accessed on 2015-05-01
10
Image taken and reworked from http://www.raeng.org.uk/publications/other/23-wind-turbine, accessed on
2015-05-01
11
http://www.polarisamerica.com/turbines/100kw-wind-turbines/, accessed on 2015-05-01
12
Page 45 from this catalogue: http://www.urbanwind.net/pdf/CATALOGUE_V2.pdf, accessed on 2015-05-01.
One can look the catalogue for other wind turbines with similar rotor diameters for more examples.
2